The killer of headmaster Philip Lawrence is set to be released from prison, the Parole Board has said.

The decision to release Learco Chindamo, originally revealed by the Daily Mail, comes just days after teacher Ann Maguire was killed in front of her pupils at Corpus Christi Catholic College in Leeds.

Chindamo was jailed indefinitely for knifing father-of-four Mr Lawrence to death outside St George's Roman Catholic School in north west London in 1995. The teacher went to help a 13-year-old pupil who was being assaulted.

A spokesman for the Parole Board said: "We can confirm that a three-member panel of the board has directed the release of Learco Chindamo.

"The decision to release is a matter for the board, which is independent. Practical arrangements for the release are a matter for the Secretary of State. We are unable to comment further on the details of this case."

A Ministry of Justice spokeswoman said: "The re-release of life sentenced offenders is directed by the independent Parole Board once the board are satisfied they can be safely managed in the community.

"Their life licence lasts for the rest of their lives, and they may be recalled to prison at any time for breaching their licence conditions.

"Additionally, they will be subject to strict controls and restrictions for as long as their risk requires them."

Mr Lawrence, 48, had gone to the aid of one of his pupils who was being attacked with an iron bar at the gates of the school.

He was seeing his pupils off, as he did every day, when he spotted one of his students being hit over the head.

He intervened and stood between his pupil and the attackers during the stand-off on December 8 1995.

But he was punched and stabbed through the heart by his 15-year-old killer, Learco Chindamo, a feared gang member.

The respected teacher staggered bleeding to the school reception, where paramedics desperately tried to save him, but he died from his wounds.

Chindamo was later convicted of murder at the Old Bailey and served 15 years behind bars.

He was paroled in July 2010 but rearrested and recalled to prison in November 2010 amid accusations that he intimidated and robbed a man at a cash machine.

Chindamo allegedly accosted him outside a Sainsbury's store with the words ''Do you remember about the headteacher in Maida Vale?'' as he ordered him to hand over his money.

Despite being acquitted by a jury, he faced at least another year in jail after breaching the terms of his licence by meeting a gang member, breaking a curfew and failing a breath test, it is understood.

Following the collapse of three previous trials, he was acquitted of robbery at London's Blackfriars Crown Court.

The killing of Mr Lawrence shocked the country and raised the profile of the problem of a knife culture that had taken root in many inner city schools.

The death became a symbol of the violence teachers and pupils were facing in the supposed safety of the classroom.

Two years after his death, Mr Lawrence was awarded the Queen's Gallantry Medal for outstanding personal heroism.

His widow Frances Lawrence vowed to continue her husband's work of promoting the achievements of young people by establishing the Philip Lawrence Awards.

Launched in 1997, the awards honour outstanding achievements of young people in the community.

This is a clear case of someone ,that however long they spend in prison will always end up back there shortly after being released. No matter what help he receives in prison he will never be able to integrate back into society. Every time is he released some poor innocent person will mugged/burgled/threa
tened or killed and he will end up back in prison. Why not lock him up and throw away the key. This person will never change.

This is a clear case of someone ,that however long they spend in prison will always end up back there shortly after being released. No matter what help he receives in prison he will never be able to integrate back into society. Every time is he released some poor innocent person will mugged/burgled/threa
tened or killed and he will end up back in prison. Why not lock him up and throw away the key. This person will never change.creditcrunch2010

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